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My favorite part of this debate is the assumption that you can’t find CTO M2 MacBook Airs at a discount. But just yesterday over at Appleinsider they are showing all models of M2 MBAs with at least $100 discount—with a 10 GPU core 24 GB/2 TB M2 MacBook Air selling for $2299 for $200 off list.

The currently lopsided price differential between a CTO M2 MBA and a base M1 Pro MBP is a temporary situation that is already starting to fade. Once it is gone, I wonder what the people banging the drum for the 14” MBP and against the M2 MBA are going to argue about?
until that happen, i'll happily keep banging that drum. you guys can keep living in denial that the base mbp 14 is a better value for the same money than a BTO mba m2.
 
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Well the M2 pros are around the corner and this price difference will go back to normal because apple isn’t going to continue making the m1 pro afterwards. I’ll continue to enjoy my M2 air, zero regrets getting it over the m1 pro for my use case
 
Well the M2 pros are around the corner and this price difference will go back to normal because apple isn’t going to continue making the m1 pro afterwards. I’ll continue to enjoy my M2 air, zero regrets getting it over the m1 pro for my use case
As I said above, discounts are starting to happen with the M2 MacBook Air. When the M2 Pro MacBook Pro comes out the situation with lopsided discounts will switch to favor the M2 MBA. I still wonder what the 14" MBP proponents will use to argue about its "value" then. I'm sure they will though.
 
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As I said above, discounts are starting to happen with the M2 MacBook Air. When the M2 Pro MacBook Pro comes out the situation with lopsided discounts will switch to favor the M2 MBA. I still wonder what the 14" MBP proponents will use to argue about it's "value" then. I'm sure they will though.
lol yup, they aren’t going to let this go, they’ll sink with their ship, that’s fine. I’m sure for many, the 14” pro makes more sense, I’ve never had an issue with that. My issue is thinking that this 14” is some magical one size fits all laptop and anybody is crazy for considering something else, just sounds ridiculous
 
As I said above, discounts are starting to happen with the M2 MacBook Air. When the M2 Pro MacBook Pro comes out the situation with lopsided discounts will switch to favor the M2 MBA. I still wonder what the 14" MBP proponents will use to argue about its "value" then. I'm sure they will though.
thats a easy one, i'll stop when the price doesn't make sense, you think i'm arguing because i have some sort of blood pack with my macbook? 😂
 
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lol yup, they aren’t going to let this go, they’ll sink with their ship, that’s fine. I’m sure for many, the 14” pro makes more sense, I’ve never had an issue with that. My issue is thinking that this 14” is some magical one size fits all laptop and anybody is crazy for considering something else, just sounds ridiculous
i will let it go when the price stop making sense for the value, right now nothing beats the 14inch in value for 1599. whats ridiculous is OP made this thread to keep banging on his points that he reiterated from the mba vs mbp thread.
 
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I doubt that. I'm guessing you'll find some other reason to hate on the M2 MacBook Air.
on the contrary i wanted the m2 mba to work, my setup with my caldigit element hub only does 60watt, and my arcbook doesn't have the slot rubber for the 14inch, i had to upgrade alot of desktop components to accommodate my new 14inch. besides dropping 4k+ for the mbp itself, i spend another 300 bucks getting the right usb hub and everything else.
 
My favorite part of this debate is the assumption that you can’t find CTO M2 MacBook Airs at a discount. But just yesterday over at Appleinsider they are showing all models of M2 MBAs with at least $100 discount—with a 10 GPU core 24 GB/2 TB M2 MacBook Air selling for $2299 for $200 off list.

The currently lopsided price differential between a CTO M2 MBA and a base M1 Pro MBP is a temporary situation that is already starting to fade. Once it is gone, I wonder what the people banging the drum for the 14” MBP and against the M2 MBA are going to argue about?
I guess you need to ask yourself: Who started this thread? Someone who is advocating the 14" MBP or someone who is advocating the M2 MBA? Hint: It's not the former.
 
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I guess you need to ask yourself: Who started this thread? Someone who is advocating the 14" MBP or someone who is advocating the M2 MBA? Hint: It's not the former.
I don't think I understand your point. This started as a thread that celebrated the M2 MacBook Air as a good value (maybe the best value). Immediately the next post was someone advocating for the 14" MacBook Pro. Then after a positive reply, another person advocating an 14" MBP.

It's hard not to see the pattern. It repeats on every M2 MacBook Air post. It's really weird.

Why do all the M2 MBA advocates feel that everyone hates it?
Who says everyone. There are a dozen or so forum members who are endlessly repeat their 14" MacBook Pro advocacy. It isn't hard to come to the conclusion that many of those posters are anti-MBA for some reason. I don't understand why but it sure seems that they can't see a positive M2 MBA post without jumping in with 14" MBP something "value" something.
 
I don't think I understand your point. This started as a thread that celebrated the M2 MacBook Air as a good value (maybe the best value). Immediately the next post was someone advocating for the 14" MacBook Pro. Then after a positive reply, another person advocating an 14" MBP.

It's hard not to see the pattern. It repeats on every M2 MacBook Air post. It's really weird.


Who says everyone. There are a dozen or so forum members who are endlessly repeat their 14" MacBook Pro advocacy. It isn't hard to come to the conclusion that many of those posters are anti-MBA for some reason. I don't understand why but it sure seems that they can't see a positive M2 MBA post without jumping in with 14" MBP something "value" something.
lmao no one is saying the mba is a bad laptop, we are not "anti mba" i bought my wife a mba so how do i anti something i own. you guys got some weird narrative going on there. the mba is positive in its own light, but the OP wants to compare it to the 14 for the same price and goes against logic thats on him.
 
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I don't think I understand your point. This started as a thread that celebrated the M2 MacBook Air as a good value (maybe the best value). Immediately the next post was someone advocating for the 14" MacBook Pro. Then after a positive reply, another person advocating an 14" MBP.

It's hard not to see the pattern. It repeats on every M2 MacBook Air post. It's really weird.

My point is this thread wasn't started by anyone who is anti-M2 MBA.

Who says everyone. There are a dozen or so forum members who are endlessly repeat their 14" MacBook Pro advocacy. It isn't hard to come to the conclusion that many of those posters are anti-MBA for some reason. I don't understand why but it sure seems that they can't see a positive M2 MBA post without jumping in with 14" MBP something "value" something.
It certainly appears that way to me. That said given what you just wrote why start another thread about the value proposition of 14" MBP versus a similarly spec'd M2 MBA? There is literally no reason for this thread to exist other than to keep it going.
 
lmao no one is saying the mba is a bad laptop, we are not "anti mba" i bought my wife a mba so how do i anti something i own. you guys got some weird narrative going on there. the mba is positive in its own light, but the OP wants to compare it to the 14 for the same price and goes against logic thats on him.
Wait. Why would you buy your wife an M2 MacBook Air if it isn't a good value. Now I'm really confused. Or did you get a base M2 MacBook Air? The one that many here think is a terrible choice because of 8 GB RAM and a single chip SSD design.
 
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Wait. Why would you buy your wife an M2 MacBook Air if it isn't a good value. Now I'm really confused. Or did you get a base M2 MacBook Air? The one that many here think is a terrible choice because of 8 GB RAM and a single chip SSD design.
i never said the base mba is a bad value, my whole argument, if you choose to read, was the same spec mba as the base mbp 14 is a bad value.
 
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i never said the base mba is a bad value, my whole argument, if you choose to read, was the same spec mba as the base mbp 14 is a bad value.
This is an example of the paranoia that seems to be prevalent with the M2 MBA advocates. They see things that aren't there.
 
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i never said the base mba is a bad value, my whole argument, if you choose to read, was the same spec mba as the base mbp 14 is a bad value.
You do know that your posting history is public right? I found at least 4 times you said that the M2 is just an overclocked M1. Yet I'm supposed to believe that you bought one? So weird.
 
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You do know that your posting history is public right? I found at least 4 times you said that the M2 is just an overclocked M1. Yet I'm supposed to believe that you bought one? So weird.
i never said i bought a m2, my wife has a m1 mba 16gb. i think you need help with reading comprehension.
 
i never said i bought a m2, my wife has a m1 mba 16gb. i think you need help with reading comprehension.
You used the fact that you bought an M1 MacBook Air as a defense against an accusation that you are anti M2 MacBook Air? I have no idea what to say to that. You clearly implied that you purchased an M2 MacBook Air. 🙃
 
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You used the fact that you bought an M1 MacBook Air as a defense against an accusation that you are anti M2 MacBook Air? I have no idea what to say to that. You clearly implied that you purchased an M2 MacBook Air. 🙃
i didn't imply jack, you made that assumption thats on you buddy 😂

i don't own a m2 mba, no need when i already got a m1 mba max specced and a mbp 14 max specced, contrary to what others do but i don't piss away money to fluff up apple's bottom line.

what i can say is, my co-worker whos desk is next to mine, and whos on my team, has the new m2 mba, and whenever i send him a marketing file for him to review, the sound is flat and the screen is dimmer than mine.
 
what i can say is, my co-worker whos desk is next to mine, and whos on my team, has the new m2 mba, and whenever i send him a marketing file for him to review, the sound is flat and the screen is dimmer than mine.
So you spent $4300 so that your sound isn't flat and the screen is brighter? But you don't fluff up Apple's bottom line? 🤣
 
So you spent $4300 so that your sound isn't flat and the screen is brighter? But you don't fluff up Apple's bottom line? 🤣
i spent 4300 because my work requires me to have 64gb of ram, brighter screen and better sound is just an added bonus. again, i gain nothing from someone buying a 14inch or a mba, actually i digress, i do gain something since i'm a apple shareholder 😂

p.s i dont actually pay 4300, its a tax write off for me so in actuality i pay more like 2500.
 
the screen is the first thing you interact with, so a better screen is a better screen no matter the context.

a mini led is a better screen than ips, thats a fact, not subjective opinion. as for speakers, you put anyone who has a sane mind and decent pair of ears, and they will tell you the speakers on the mba sounds like crap next to the mbp. you wanna get technical? get a db reader, numbers don't lie.

3rd party app allows you to dial it up to 1000 nits on the whim, apple is also rumor to release tools in ventura that will let you jack up the brightness up to 1000 nits at your disposal.

cause you never pushed it, there were plenty of time i had the mba thermal throttle when i export a video or encode a file. my point is far from moot because your use case is your anecdotal and therefore irrelevant when applying to the overall samples of mba thermal throttling already out there.

i'm confused, so now you are saying the base MBA is not a good value?

no, using window laptops as a benchmark is so far off from macs cause its literally comparing apple to oranges, no window laptops can get close to the performance/battery life of the apple silicon.

being a year old is irrelevant, there is nothing the m2 mba can do that the 14inch can't. it has the same pro res encoder, same lpddr5, the only thing 14inch cant match is burst single core performance, and you have to really, REALLY nitpick to justify.

oh buddy you absolutely are, actions speaks louder than words, and so far, given you started A WHOLE NEW THREAD, which is completely unnecessary imo, and still beating this dead horse discussion on so many subjective points as your "facts" really do give off a strong vibe that you are locked in, sure you have since swayed your opinion on couple of issues, but overall, you're pretty much locked in.

no argument from me there, if you value lightweight and that extra hour of battery that much, yeah the air is for you. but from these asking which one is a better value, literally everyone agrees the current 1599 base 14 is a amazing deal and you have to be somewhat daft to go buy a specced up m2 mba over the 1599 mbp.

again, thats your opinion, please reframe from confusing subjective matter with objective facts. there are tons of people preferring the taper feel of the m1 mba, myself included, it makes typing easier and the taper edge doesn't dig into your wrist.

great, good to know that you can identify your own subjective opinion, the mini led is a better screen, you can try negate it as much as you want but no one is falling for it.

its a very minor trade off for an absolute beast of a base machine, one where many including me will gladly take. only these really nitpicking that .4kg of weight difference would think otherwise.

the 14 is just as flexible if not even more flexible, more ports, more flexibility. its also equally portable, being .4kg is literally the difference of less than a pound of difference. if you think that is a problem i'm worried for your physical health.

great! i love DIY resolutions, but if the price is the same, why sacrifice?

i'm absolutely doing me, better screen, who doesn't want that, better sound, who doesn't want that, more ports, better sustained performance, much better multi core performance, all for the same price, the literally trade off is .4kg or .8 pound heavier, oh and 1 hour more battery than the 14's already amazing battery life. i can keep poking holes in your argument, but whats the point, most if not all response so far agree the 14inch base for the same price is the better deal. sure, there might be some blooming, some other issues, but no laptop is perfect, but for the price of the 14 and the price of the specced up mba m2, you really have to put ALOT of weigh behind that .4kg and slight bulk to justify the air.
Wow.

First off you spent $4300 on a M1 14" MBP? So you didn't buy the base model? I am saying that the base Model of the M2 Air is not where the real value is. In fact,I would go so far to say that a base model on any laptop Mac or not is generally a bad idea.

Also I am curious why you got a 14" and not a 16" since the 16" clearly has better screen, speakers, a better charger and has high performance mode you can't get in the 14"? I mean the specs are better so isn't it a better choice? Or did something else factor into your decision? Like maybe size and weight? There would be no other reason other than size and weight based on your line of thinking where better specs equal better machine. Also talking of thermal throttling the M1 Max on the 14" has thermal throttling?

Well since you don't actually own an M2 MBA I am not going to take your word on the speakers being crap. I have owned a 14" MBP with M1 Pro, a 16" MBP with M1 and lastly a 16" MBP with M1 Max as well as the M2 MBA so everything I speak of comes from personal experience using the machines for a long period of time. I do not know where you are getting your information on the M2 MBA since you don't own one. As I said before the 14" simply doesn't get loud enough and I have struggled to hear content while my M2 MBA I have never had that problem so no matter how good something sounds if it doesn't have adequate volume the sound quality is a mute point.

Being a year old in tech is very relevant. If it wasn't relevant then Apple would not release new machines and the new machines would not add new features but that is not the case. Tech moves fast and a year is a long time.

Who in their right mind is looking at a screen at 1000 nits?? Like what possible value would that add besides draining the battery in 5 minutes? Honestly your comparisons are laughable. If the M1 MBP 14/16 could go maybe 600-800 nits without having to tweak anything I guess when you are in the blazing sun that would be useful but 500 nits is plenty bright and I like bright screens.

Since you don't own and have never owned a M2 MacBook Air your opinion on throttling is useless. It doesn't throttle in use case of air users and doesn't even throttle under medium heavy loads for a short duration which it was not designed for. You can also as I said ameliorate throttling were it to occur using a ice pack and towel or laptop cooler. Most people will not be using this machine in a way where they would need those things but those who do at least have options.

The M1 MBA air is an ancient design with clunky bezels and I have never liked it. That is my opinion. Obviously there are many who do. To each their own. I can tell you the M2 doesn't dig into wrists.

The 14" doesn't have amazing battery life when compared to the M2 MBP 13" or M2 MBA 13". If you put the M1 MBP 14" under load it drains the battery very fast. The M1 Max 14" also thermal throttles under heavy sustained load. Also you complain about the M2 thermal throttling but you have an M1 air which everyone knows has throttling issues so I guess you are just assuming?

And finally the base model 14" MBP is a great deal but it is a base model machine and I wouldn't recommend it. I would tell people to get the 10 core cpu model 16 core GPU and 16gb ram. That is a much better value for a Pro user. The only base model I would actually recommend is the 16" as it is pretty much perfect. A lot of people would want 1 tb storage upgrade on either one but on the 16" that is all you would need to do. The 14" MBP base makes too many compromises and if you are saying it is more than enough for an air type user that may be true but they will never use or need those Pro features and would probably value battery life and size and weight more.

Yes I am very glad that you are happy with your 14" MBP that is way over base. Personally if I was a Professional I would get the 16" if I am going to spend that much money and have an air for travel but that is me....

I am sure you will have zero regrets when the new M2 MBP 14/16 comes out by the way you constantly try to trash anyone who doesn't think like you or have what you have.

The reason I started this thread as I said before was because, now please pay attention here, that people who were sort of in the middle-not a pro user but not really an air user were sort of forced to upgrade to a more expensive machine that they didn't need or use half of the capabilities but would pay more because the alternative was too slow and made too many compromises. I know the $1599 M1 base model MBP seems better because it costs the same as the M2 air with similar specs but just because an older Pro machine with "better" specs costs the same still doesn't make it better for people who use air laptops which was the target of this thread. This is a MBA sub forum by the way and not a MBP sub forum just in case you are lost. Now the new M2 MBA still has compromises but offers so much more power in a FANLESS thin and light design which has a great 500 nits screen, great speakers for the size of the device, great battery life that we now don't feel that our only choice for decent laptop is only a Pro model. It offers us in the middle a much better choice and value than ever before because now we can have a machine that we utilize fully and don't waste out money on things we don't use or need. This is a point, the value of owning a MBA vs a Pro when you don't need a Pro but want performance that has gotten lost and only the Mantra MBP 14' $1599 is such a deal is heard. When the new M2 MBP 14/16" come out we can argue value comparing apples to apples. As I said before just because something has better "specs" doesn't make it better. Specs bro specs....BUT all so many people on these forums do is SCREAM what a POS M2 MBA is compared to the 14" MBP and I got a little tired of hearing the same tired tropes over and over again. I tried to explain what value actually means and like a horse with blinders got a lot of the same responses from people who don't own a M2 MBA but have an M1 machine and just have some sort of thing to prove. Really odd behavior.
 
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The reason I started this thread as I said before was because, now please pay attention here, that people who were sort of in the middle-not a pro user but not really an air user were sort of forced to upgrade to a more expensive machine that they didn't need or use half of the capabilities but would pay more because the alternative was too slow and made too many compromises. I know the $1599 M1 base model MBP seems better because it costs the same as the M2 air with similar specs but just because an older Pro machine with "better" specs costs the same still doesn't make it better for people who use air laptops which was the target of this thread. This is a MBA sub forum by the way and not a MBP sub forum just in case you are lost.
You're the one who started this thread comparing the M2 MBA to the base model 14" MBP so don't start being offended that you have "MBP people" stating their opinion the base model 14" MBA @ $1,599 is a better performance value than the M2 MBA.
 
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